120921-N-OY799-512 PACIFIC OCEAN (September 21, 2012) Sailors from Crash and Salvage stand watch as an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the Black Aces of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is returning to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility four months ahead of schedule in order to maintain combatant commander requirements and Navy assets in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released).

120921-N-OY799-406 PACIFIC OCEAN (September 21, 2012) A final checker stands by during flight maneuvers on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is returning to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility four months ahead of schedule in order to maintain combatant commander requirements and Navy assets in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released).

120921-N-OY799-348 PACIFIC OCEAN (September 21, 2012) A shooter check the catapult tracks prior to flight operations on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is returning to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility four months ahead of schedule in order to maintain combatant commander requirements and Navy assets in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released).

120921-N-OY799-204 PACIFIC OCEAN (September 21, 2012) Sailors fire M240 machine guns during a crew served weapons shoot on the fantail aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is returning to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility four months ahead of schedule in order to maintain combatant commander requirements and Navy assets in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released).

120906-N-OY799-076 PACIFIC OCEAN (September 06, 2012) Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Hilary Getz, from Wells River, Vt., tests the circuit card of a consolidated automated support system to return it to the fleet in the fire control radar shop aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is returning to U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility four months ahead of schedule in order to maintain combatant commander requirements and Navy assets in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released).

120921-N-HV737-067 PACIFIC OCEAN (September 21, 2012) Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Justin Fortuno, from San Francisco, clean a crew served weapon after a gun shoot in the ship's armory aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is returning to U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility four months ahead of schedule in order to maintain combatant commander requirements and Navy assets in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charlotte C. Oliver/Released)

120921-N-MN975-020 PACIFIC OCEAN (September 21, 2012) A pilot salutes before he prepares to take off in an F/A-18C Hornet from the Golden Dragons of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 192 on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CN 74). John C. Stennis is returning to U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility four months ahead of schedule in order to maintain combatant commander requirements and Navy assets in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Justin A. Johndro/Released)

120920-N-ZZ999-006 PACIFIC OCEAN (SEPTEMBER 20, 2012) Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Chad Rees performs main rotor head accumulator bleed and service on a MH-60R Seahawk helicopter in the hangar bay aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN74). John C. Stennis is returning to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility four months ahead of schedule in order to maintain combatant commander requirements and Navy assets in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Daniel Schumacher/Released)

120920-N-OY799-062 PACIFIC OCEAN (September 20, 2012) Sailors take their E-4 advancement exam on the mess decks aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is returning to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility four months ahead of schedule in order to maintain combatant commander requirements and Navy assets in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released).

120921-N-HV737-031 PACIFIC OCEAN (September 21, 2012) Aviation Ordnanceman Airman William Sullins, from Memphis, Tenn., cleans a crew served weapon after a gun shoot in the ship's armory aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is returning to U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility four months ahead of schedule in order to maintain combatant commander requirements and Navy assets in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charlotte C. Oliver/Released)

120906-N-OY799-077 PACIFIC OCEAN (September 06, 2012) Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Alonzo Roberson, from Schenectady, N.Y., and Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Gabriela Contreras, from Pinole, Calif., calibrate a high frequency probe in the calibration lab aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). "I take pride in being responsible for the calibration of the ship's and airwing equipment which plays a major role in getting us where we need to go as safely as possible," said Roberson. John C. Stennis is returning to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility four months ahead of schedule in order to maintain combatant commander requirements for the presence in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released).

120921-N-OY799-063 PACIFIC OCEAN (September 21, 2012) Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Deena Vanderhye fires a .50-caliber machine gun during a crew served weapons shoot on the fantail aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is returning to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility four months ahead of schedule in order to maintain combatant commander requirements and Navy assets in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released).